Melissa Mcgoniagle

Melissa is originally from the East Coast and moved to Vail, sight unseen, because a friend told her living in Vail was the best winter of his life.  It was the craziest thing she had ever done and turned out to be exactly the right thing to do.  She was only planning to stay for the one season, but, yes, she was talked into staying for the summer, and as the story goes, she is still here.  She loves the proximity to so much world-class recreation, there are so many ways to enjoy nature and stay active.  She never gets tired of the beautiful mountain views, trails, streams, wildflowers, and snow.  But it’s the people that make this place special to her. 

Melissa started in the industry as a hostess but a passionate chef and world-class sommelier taught her a love she never outgrew.  She was working at a hotel in town when she dined at Mountain Standard for the first time.  Within ten minutes of sitting at the bar, she knew this was the place she needed to work. She approached the GM and inquired about a job and within a week she was training as a server.  She moved from server to bartender, then to Sweet Basil bartender, and Sweet Basil dining room manager, and eventually climbed her way up to General Manager.

She feels privileged to work with so many talented people and cherishes the friendships that have come with the job.  She is a music geek and enjoys hiking, camping, rafting, fishing, and snowboarding.  She is her happiest when she gets  to “play” outside with friends and her family: partner Josh and children Ronin and River.